How to Check Tire Tread Depth at Home

Why Mobile Service? Have you ever realized you need an oil change before a long road trip, but you’re too busy at work to make it to the dealership before you leave? Or, maybe it’s Spring Break and the kids are home with you all week. You simply don’t want to drag them along with you to have that recall work completed. How about that time you realized your headlight was out and you just didn't feel like making a special trip to get it fixed? We’ve all been in these situations and the Loveland Ford service team gets it! Taking care of your vehicle is important, but it can be hard to make the time to schedule an appointment. Your life is busy and your time is valuable! What to Expect That’s why Loveland Ford has a Mobile Service program coming to you soon! That’s right, we’ll being the shop directly to your home or office for basic maintenance, light repair and recall services. You’ll save time and receive the same service you trust from factory trained Ford technicians. We will soon have 3 Mobile Service Vans in our fleet to serve our valued customers in the most convenient way possible. Our goal is to have this program launched in about a month for our neighbors within a 15-20 mile radius of our dealership in Loveland, CO. That radius will expand over time and we look forward to serving the entire Front Range! Once this program is life, we’ll be sure to update you with additional details like how to schedule you mobile appointment, a list of services that qualify, exact locations we can serve, and how to pay. In the meantime, if you have questions about our Mobile Service offerings or would like to schedule a regular appointment at the dealership, please reach out to your Loveland Ford service advisor or book online!

December is here and the brunt of Mother Nature's winter wrath is on it's way! We've been fortunate to have a long Fall season and the snow hasn't hit us too hard just yet, but we all know that can and will change in the blink of an eye! There are a few important things you should do before the cold and snow move in to ensure you'll be safe on the road this season: 1. Replace windshield wipers and fill wiper fluid. Wiper blades are made of rubber and with time, it's inevitable that they'll deteriorate. You don't want to get caught in a freezing rain or snow storm without properly functioning windshield wipers. Wiper fluid helps break up snow and ice, so can be just as important as the blades in winter conditions. Decreased visibility results in dangerous driving conditions, so please be sure to check your blades and fluid before the snow starts falling! 2. Check your battery. During cold winter months, your vehicle's engine needs to work harder which puts more pressure on the battery. Don't get stuck in the cold with a car that won't start, have your battery checked before it needs to start working harder. 3. Check tire pressure. When roads are slick, your tires can be your best friend. Make sure you have enough tread and consider getting snow tires. If your tread is adequate and you don't want to replace the tires, simply making sure tire pressure is at the right level can make all the difference. When tires are deflated even slightly, the tread closes up and traction is significantly decreased. 4. Check your brakes. If you need your brakes replaced, now is the time to take care of that repair. Icy and slippery roads always create more driving hazards, so it's one of the most important times to ensure your brakes are functioning properly. 5. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Regardless of how safely you drive and how winterized your vehicle is, there's always the chance that something can happen and leave you waiting in the bitter cold. Having an emergency kit could be a life saver. Make sure you have basic necessities such as warmth, light, water, first aid and tools to signal for help. It's also always a good idea to have some non-perishable food and extra blankets on hand just in case. Please come see our service department if you need anything done to prepare your vehicle for winter. We'll be happy to do an inspection and help you with any work that should be done to keep you safe, warm and prepared!

Whenever you notice an irregular smell coming from your car, its very important that you take notice. The best thing to do, especially if you're not used to working on your own car, is to bring it to a mechanic immediately. However, it's still important for each driver to have an understanding of what's going on with your vehicle, so here are a few common warning smells to be aware of and what they could mean. Burnt Rubber: The immediate thought may be your tires, but this smell could actually mean slipping drive belts or loose hoses that may be running against rotating drive pulleys. Hot Oil: This smell could potentially mean that there is engine oil leaking into the exhaust system. This assumption can be verified by looking for oil on the pavement beneath the vehicle. Smoke coming from the engine could be another sign that there’s oil in the exhaust system. Gasoline: The smell of gasoline could be a sign of a gas leak, possibly with the fuel injector or fuel tank. Any time you smell gas, it is a possible fire hazard and needs immediate attention. Syrup: A sweet smell could be a sign that coolant is leaking from the engine’s cooling system. Burning Carpet: A burning smell like this could be caused by brake trouble. Have brakes checked immediately, especially if this smell is happening during normal driving conditions. Rotten Eggs: This smell could mean that there is an issue with the catalytic converter. The rotten egg smell may arise when the hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust is not properly converted to sulfur dioxide.